GOAL takes a look at some key storylines heading into the second Matchday of MLS action in 2025
MLS’s first Matchday more than lived up to expectations, delivering standout performances from some unlikely heroes. As we look back, one team stood above the rest— the Columbus Crew, who made a statement with a dominant opening-day display and currently sit atop of the league's Eastern Conference on goal differential.
Now, with Matchday 2 on the horizon, key storylines are already taking shape.
Seattle Sounders striker Jordan Morris is on the verge of history, just one goal away from becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer. Meanwhile, reigning champions LA Galaxy are still searching for their first win of the season after a disappointing opener against expansion side San Diego FC.
And then there’s Columbus. Can the Crew maintain their high standards in 2025 despite losing both starting strikers Cucho Hernandez and Christian Ramirez and another key player in wingback Yaw Yeboah in recent months?
GOAL dives into all that and more in The Kickoff, a weekly preview of each MLS Matchday.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowIMGANCan Jordan Morris make Seattle history?
U.S. international Jordan Morris was named to MLS’ Matchday 1 Team of the Matchday after scoring twice in the Seattle Sounders’ season-opening draw against Charlotte FC. In the process, he reached a major milestone, tying Raul Ruidíaz as the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Morris is coming off a strong 2024 campaign, matching his career-best regular season with 18 goal contributions. At 30, he continues to evolve, nearly a decade after breaking onto the global stage as a standout NCAA player at Stanford in 2015.
Seattle, meanwhile, has significantly strengthened its squad for 2025 — a year that will see the club compete in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Leagues Cup in addition to MLS. Morris is expected to play a key role across all competitions, though questions remain about his consistency in front of goal. With two goals on opening day, he’s already making his case as the leader of the Sounders' attack.
Next up, Seattle visits Real Salt Lake on Matchday 2, where Morris has a chance to claim the club’s all-time scoring record outright. He currently sits at 86 goals across all competitions.
AdvertisementIMGANWill Columbus be fine after all?
The Crew were dealt a few devastating blows this offseason, seeing star forward Hernandez depart the club for La Liga side Real Betis, as well as veteran forward Ramirez to the LA Galaxy. That's not to mention wingback Yeboah left via free agency to sign with LAFC, as well.
With very few incoming signings ahead of 2025, there were worries surrounding the Crew's attack and their ability to replace Yeboah — a crucial part of Wilfried Nancy's transitional defense.
However, on opening day, the Crew were… utterly fantastic.
They defeated the Chicago Fire 4-2, with a brace from star winger Diego Rossi, and an effort from Canada international Jacen Russell-Rowe, as well as an own-goal. They went behind early, conceding two early goals, but they stormed back and put on a dominant display to put the hose on Gregg Berhalter's revamped Fire.
Now, heading into Matchday 2, the Crew travel to the northeast to take on Caleb Porter's new-look Revolution, which will serve as a big test for Nancy. This Revolution side is not the same team that fell to the bottom of the league in 2024, they have a star DP striker in Leonardo Campana and have shored up the rest of their XI with MLS-caliber talent.
If the Crew can find a result for the second-straight week, with Russell-Rowe as their starting striker and Rossi playing off him, it could provide Nancy the blueprint he needs to navigate the 2025 season.
IMGANThe Galaxy's bounce back
Opening day was one to forget for the LA Galaxy. The reigning champions, playing in front of a sold-out home crowd, fell flat in a 2-0 loss to expansion side San Diego FC.
It was a lackluster performance, with little impact from LA’s top players. That said, only six starters from their 2024 MLS Cup-winning XI were on the field. Stars Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil missed out due to injury, while MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and midfielder Mark Delgado were shipped out in the offseason.
Greg Vanney’s squad may have been caught up in the pregame hype, but Sunday was a reality check—being champions doesn’t make you invincible.
Now, LA faces an early test of resilience. They’ll aim to bounce back on Matchday 2 against a Vancouver Whitecaps side that delivered one of the most dominant performances of the opening weekend, crushing the Portland Timbers 4-1 behind a masterclass from Canada international Jayden Nelson (three assists and a goal).
It’s a tough challenge for the Galaxy, who aren’t exactly brimming with confidence. But if they can get Gabriel Pec going on the wing and unlock Christian Ramírez’s finishing touch, they’ll have a shot at securing three points.
Getty Images SportWhat's trending?
+ On Matchday 1, 46 goals were scored across the weekend, the most in an MLS opening week in league history, breaking the previous mark of 41 scored in 2019.
+ Atlanta United's 3-2 victory over CF Montreal saw 65,520 fans attend the match – the third-highest attendance globally for a soccer game on Saturday.
+ Seven players across the league recorded a brace on opening day, but no player achieved a hat-trick. Heading into Matchday 2, there is a seven-way tie for the Golden Boot.
+ Strikers Emmanuel Latte Lath of Atlanta United and Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC both have a chance to make MLS history on Matchday 2, becoming the first MLS player to score five goals in their first two career games. In 2002, Carlos Ruiz scored four in two for the LA Galaxy.
+ Vancouver's Jayden Nelson tops MLS in assists with three, though the first Matchday. If he were to achieve two more assists on Matchday 2, he would become the first player in MLS history to record five assists in the first two matches of the season.